By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Development Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) and South Africa’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in combating corruption and safeguarding public resources across the continent.
The agreement, signed on July 3, 2025, at the SIU headquarters in Pretoria, provides a framework for cooperation in areas such as information sharing, technical assistance, research, training, and capacity building.
Paula Santos Da-Costa, Director of PIAC, signed on behalf of the AfDB, while Advocate Andy Mothibi represented the SIU. Senior officials from both institutions attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Santos Da-Costa described the agreement as an opportunity to ensure that development resources are used for their intended purposes. She highlighted PIAC’s ongoing work on project integrity reviews with AfDB managers and regional governments, noting the positive results of preventive approaches in strengthening accountability in infrastructure projects.
“We see this as an area for immediate collaboration, and we value the strides the SIU has made in asset recovery,” she said.
Mothibi welcomed the partnership, stressing the importance of operationalizing the MoU through practical work plans. He said the agreement was timely, as South Africa currently holds the G20 Presidency, offering a platform for wider engagement on public integrity, asset recovery, border management, health sector accountability, and whistleblower protection.
“This collaboration with the AfDB will go a long way in enhancing accountability and the effective use of public funds,” Mothibi said.
Both institutions underscored their shared commitment to advancing governance, transparency, and anti-corruption efforts across Africa.
